Beats 2017 Headphones Reviews

We have currently published 7 Beats headphones reviews. They're a popular brand that makes stylish and comfortable headphones that deliver an above average sound quality and a good bass.

Compared to other brands

Comfortable Design. Most of the Beats lineup are comfortable headphones that you can wear for hours at a time. While their most comfortable designs are usually over ears, even their on-ear and in-ear headphones are comparatively more comfortable than similarly designed models.

Above-Average Sound Quality. Beats used to have a bass-heavy sound that lacked a lot of detail. However, the more recent models deliver better-balanced sound quality while still producing a powerful enough bass to satisfy bass-hungry listeners.

Stylish and Sturdy Designs. Beats usually shines, compared to other headphone brands when it comes to their design. They have sleek looking headphones that stand out with bold colors schemes and a premium look and feel. While they're not as durable as some other brands on the market, the more recent models have a sturdy build quality that further emphasizes their premium price range.

Expensive. The Beats headphones are relatively more expensive when compared to other brands. The more recent models better match their premium price points but they still feel a bit pricey for what they have to offer.

Mediocre Noise Canceling. Only a few over-ear models from Beats have active noise canceling but unfortunately they do not perform as well at blocking ambient noise as similarly priced noise-cancelling headphones.

Overall, Beats makes sleek and modern looking headphones that feel like accessories to your style and clothing. In the past, they had a mediocre-at-best sound quality, but more recent releases have improved their audio reproduction to suit more critical listeners while retaining a powerful bass for fans of bass-heavy music. However, they struggle to deliver a good noise canceling experience, and their headphones are a bit expensive for what they have to offer.

Best Beats Headphones

Beats has a slightly unorthodox naming convention for their headphones, but they do offer a decent variety of models for different use cases.

Beats Pro = The DJ oriented line of headphones meant for live mixing and studio use.

Best for mixed usage

What it is
This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.

What it is
The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

What it is
How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.

What it is
How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.

The best Beats headphones for mixed usage are the Beats X. Their portable design and stable fit, as well as their strong passive isolation and decently balanced sound, makes them versatile headphones for all situations. They're great for sports and they barely leak so you can use them in quieter, office-like environments without distracting your colleagues. If you're looking for a headphone that you can fit in your pocket that's also wireless and sounds good, then the BeatsX are a great option.

Best for audio quality

What it is
This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.

What it is
The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

What it is
How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.

What it is
How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.

Surprisingly, the best sounding Beats headphones are currently the Beats Solo3. This recent update to the solo line-up delivers a well-balanced sound that still packs enough of a punch for fans of bass. They're also more compact than the Studio wireless, so they're easier to carry around without a bag. They're just as sleek and well built and have the same control scheme as the bigger over-ears.

Conclusion

Beats has made great improvements to their lineup. They're still a fashion-forward headphone brand that focuses on bold color schemes and sleek modern design. They sound a lot better than the earlier models but are still a bit pricey for what they have to offer, especially for their noise-canceling headphones that do not deliver the same isolating experience that cheaper headphones from competing brands provide.

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Questions & Answers

1 ANSWERED QUESTIONS

1

Beats. Why does this website recommend them when EVERYONE else doesn't? Is it just a trend to bash beats into the ground?

Because the more recent Beats (post Apple acquisition) are actually really good! That seems to be the consensus online as well.